Page 31 of Never Kiss and Tell

“Thank you. Star is sick and Mani is gone, so Bruno needs help.”

I pause. “Mani is gone?” I stutter, looking to Charlie’s window. He’s not there, of course, but I had hoped his temper would have calmed down by now.

“Yes. Charlie called me last night and we came in early to watch the cameras. I’m truly sorry that happened. We don’t like that kind of thing around here, especially when it’s not consensual.”

I should be relieved that Mani is gone, but instead all I can think about is that Charlie went in early after walking me home the night before just because of that. I thought a slap on the wrist would be the most they would be willing to do. Losing one of their cooks just because he groped the new fill-in is crazy to me.

But I’m grateful. One thing Drew taught me is that I’m sick and fucking tired of men doing whatever they want to me.

“Well, when do you need me?” I ask, changing the subject.

Charles chuckles on the other end of the receiver.

“Whenever you can get here.”

“I’m on my way.”

One outfit change later and I’m walking in the back doorat the restaurant. Charles has his office door shut and I can hear Charlie’s voice. He sounds pissed, like they’re arguing. I want to ask him why he fired Mani, but I also don’t want to go anywhere near him after seeing how angry he was the night before.

It’s not that I’m . . . afraid of him. After years of him being the world’s biggest ass, seeing how he was the night before threw me for a loop. He felt powerful, dangerous. Maybe I have a death wish?

“Thank you so much for coming in, Bailey,” Bruno sighs when I walk to him. Sweat dots his brow, as the kitchen has already reached past uncomfortable from the heat outside.

“Wouldn’t miss the chance to work with you, now, Bruno,” I joke, taking the apron he’s holding out to me and tying it around my waist and neck. “How’s Star?”

He shakes his head, turning back to the potatoes he’s chopping into small squares.

“She woke up this morning sick to her stomach. I had to fight with her to get her to stay home.”

He holds out a large knife to me and slides the large bowl of potatoes in between us.

“I’ll peel, you chop. Doesn’t matter what they look like because they’ll be mashed potatoes by four.”

I nod and start cutting.

“How long have you two been seeing each other?” I ask to break up the awkward silence.

“Since she started working here, two years ago. She made me her grandma’s special pot pie and I was hooked.”

I laugh, depositing the potatoes in another large bowl.

“She’s a nice woman. Are you going to marry her?” I ask, peeking at him.

He grins. “Already thinking about it. What do you think? Is that too soon?”

I shrug. “I don’t think so. If you really love the person, there’s no doubt in your mind. My mom and dad got married after three months.”

Bruno whistles out through his teeth. “Damn, and they’re still together? They must really like each other.”

I grimace. “They divorced, unfortunately, but only because both of them were too hard-headed to meet in the middle.” I let out a deep sigh. “Now, Mom’s married to a sleazy lawyer and Dad’s been gone for twelve years.”

Bruno pauses. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize.”

I wave him off. “It’s okay. Those things happen.”

We fall silent, me chopping, him peeling. I enjoy the easy silence that comes with Bruno. I don’t feel the need to make small talk.

“Can I ask how it happened?”

---